Young CB Clark's first start stands as bright spot on dull afternoon for Huskers at Purdue

Nebraska cornerback Braxton Clark (17) tackles Purdue wide receiver Amad Anderson Jr. during the first half on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.

The offense didn’t capitalize enough times. The defense couldn’t get stops down the stretch. The Huskers couldn’t take advantage of a couple of big — and, so far this season, relatively rare — positive special-teams plays.

The result, of course, was a dispiriting 31-27 loss that stands both as NU’s third straight defeat and also the latest in a series of tossup type games that have not gone the Huskers’ way.